Improvement in breech-loading pistols



s. M. PERRY. Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

No. 43,259. Patented June 21. 1864.

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rATEs ArENr l F F ICE SAMUEL M. PERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EDWVARD S. RENWIOK, OF NEW YORK CITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING PISTOLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,259, dated June 21, 1864.

To ctZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. PERRY, of Brooklyn, E. D., county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to permit metallic cartridges to be used in fire-arms in such manner that the spent cartridge-shell is ex pelled from the chamber of the barrel by the explosion of the succeeding cartridge.

My invention consists of the combination of a barrel chambered out at each end for the reception of a cartridge with the lock-frame by means of a pivot, in such-manner that each end of the barrel may be charged alternately with a cartridge of larger diameter than the caliber of the barrel, and that each chambered end may be brought into position to operate in connection with the lock.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figurel is a longitudinal section showing all the interior works and the operations of the fire-arm. Fig. 2 is a top View showing the movement of the barrel in reversing around end for end. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the barrel divided through its center to show the interior chambering.

In the different figures like letters refer to like parts.

D D is the stock of thefirearm, made in any of the usual forms, so that it presents a solid abutment of metal for the base or head of the cartridge to bear against, as shown at H, and a projecting front to pivot the barrel to.

O is the barrel, which is fastened to the stock by the hub B and screw M, the barrel being kept in place by the spring-catch L pressing into one of the notches K K.

E is the bore extending through the barrel, each end of which is chambered out to receive cartridges, as shown-at A A, Fig. 3.

The operation of the fire-arm is as follows: The breech of the barrel is turned slightly on its pivot and a cartridge introduced 'into its chamber in a similar manner to other wellknownvfire-arms, then returned to its seat and exploded. Another cartridge is then laced in the chamber at the muzzle, as shown at N, Fig. 2. The barrel is then swung round, as shown by the arrow at J, until the base of the cartridge is against the abutment of the stock when the spring-catch presses up into the recess K and secures the barrel in position. The shell of the last exploded cartridge has by this operation been carried around to the muzzle, and there remains until ejected by the eX- plosion of the cartridge at the breech, which is caused by the hammer striking the fulminate in the rimof the base of the cartridge. As the barrel is chambered out at each end, the ball will be slugged or compelled to fit tight into the bore of the barrel, (intermediate between the chambers,) whichever end of the barrel the ball be fired from, and the movement of the ball through the barrel will be resisted sufficiently to insure penetration on striking the object. The ball will also be compelled to conform itself to the grooves of the rifling when the barrel is rifled. The springcatch, being rounded at its upper end, does not oppose a rigid resistance to the movement of the barrel on its pivot, but yields to the pressure applied to turn the barrel by one of the hands of the user.

Having thus described a pistol which embodies my invention, I declare that I do not claim a reversible breech-piece bored through of equal diameter, nor a yielding catch; but

YVhat I claim as my invention in fire-arms, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination-of a barrel having a chamber at each end of larger diameter than the caliber of the bore intermediate between the chambers with the lock-frame by means of a pivot, said combination operating substantially as set forth.

SAMUEL M. PERRY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. PAMISON, EMERSON GODDARD. 

